show review: nurses @ tim pyles anti monday league (the casbah)

fact: nurses sound like new motherfuckers. let me get out my "they sound like early talking heads." poster. I'm a, lugging it in from the other room now.... ah- there. they have a full length cd out, and a management deal. and i'm thinking fifty on their heels and nurses @ the ken club in mid may?

elements: off kilter drum beats, organ music, wierd electronic percussion, guitar playing, nerdy funkiness. reference points: !!!, The Rapture, Foreign Islands, They Might be Giants, New Motherfuckers. They should play the Beauty Bar immeditately!

they are from temecula. don't sleep on nurses! Tim Pyles gets FULL CREDIT for straight up saying "nurses are the shit" in february during the Fifty on Their Heels show.

Hey did I mention they drew fucking huge? Place was packed. Pretty cool looking crowd, if you ask me. Maybe that draw is Buddy Akai's draw- but people were totally into Nurses.

Sorry, again, to Buddy Akai. Someday our paths will intersect... and then... then... Mexico...

show review: fifty on their heels, roman spring @ the rythym lounge

I was reading a book about the emergence of corporate power in the United States, and an interesting observation the author made about the growth of metals processing factories in the 1880s-1890s: growth in productivity came not from expanding the physical size of the factory BUT from increasing the SPEED that the unprocessed parts moved through the factory process; most famous example: The Model T by Ford Motor Company.

So I did a show at the Rythym Lounge (3048 Midway in San Diego, CA) FREE PARKING IN BACK!!! The show featured "an intimate performance" by Fifty on Their Heels as well as special guests The Roman Spring. I didn't really promote the show heavily, or really at all, because first I wanted to confirm that I, myself, could recommend the venue on a personal level (example of venue that does not fit in this category: San Diego Sports Club - but that's just me.) I want a venue with zero drama and zero expectations, but with a decent sound system and a convienient location. The Rhythym Lounge is arguably as convenient to the downtown area as the Beauty Bar San Diego, and in the same general direction as the Casbah. It is also closer to the Beach Communities of Point Loma, Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach and Mission Beach. I think, probably that high attendance could be generated in the Point Loma area, since they have a well developed, wealthy demographic- ha ha.

So- yeah- I had a great time last night. I know San Diego crowds dig "novelty" more then anything else in their uniquely southern california psyche- so probably the strongest pitch is go get out there and judge for yourself.

On Friday night, I was shooting the shit with a couple of independent label owners from San Diego and they were talking about how fucking important it is for the band itself to be "hustling". Although at the time I kind of felt compelled to leap to the defense of bands ("they're young", "they're artists") I have to say that at the very minimum, as a record label- it is safe to say that every label looks for a band that seeks active control and expansion of their career. A "lazy" band carries little sale potential, simply because the promotional effort to sell records need to be accompanied by the dedication of time on the part of the band. Thus, even if a record reaches a certain plateau, the failure of band members to increase their promtional efforts would limit further growth.

And bands- ask yourself... at the shows I'm getting- do I control the door money? do i get a piece of the bar? Is the show on a FRIDAY or SATURDAY night? And most importantly- do I get to control the line up? I really can't emphasize the last point enough. so important- ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE LAST MINUTE SHOWS... You want a place that's available on a week night, so you can at least get your friends out for really cool bands. At the Rythym Lounge, you have to pay the door guy $50 and you don't get part of the bar- but it's so easy. And that's what all bands want, right? For stuff to be easy?

Unforch Cat Dirt is going to largely unavailable in April, but I am going back to the rythym lounge...

I saw Roman Spring for the first time last night. They reminded me of Vinyl Radio, and further, of the Strokes. They played Pop Rocks but I'm thinking- Anti-Monday League? They brought people out- I will say that much for them. They are a four piece- kind of laid back guys. The singer is younger. I liked four of their six songs- but I'd like to see them with a Casbah level sound guy...

Fifty on Their Heels was "flamboyantly entertaining". Junior managed to get onto the bar and do a step or two. We really need to work on that bit- it's a good one. Much potential. I'm getting the 7" next week, then begins the difficult process of obtaining "distribution" and "promoting" the record- but I figure I'll do that in the next 4-6 weeks before the "release" date. Do you understand that the major labels "work" a release 9 months before it hits the stores? 9 months- just waiting for the finished album to come out. Yikes.

Attendance was poor (not like the Sold Out by 11 PM? Grand Ole Party show at the Casbah.) But you know- here's the down side to the Casbah: You will never, ever, get to book "your own" show there- with your own line up. And being able to provide a GOOD SHOW for a TOURING BAND is the most useful thing you can be doing with shows in San Diego that in all other respects are leading you nowhere. And to do that, you need to have access to venue on short notice, and control over the line up.

Out of Town and Local Bands need to cooperate on shows in San Diego to generate continuing opportunities for those same bands OUTSIDE San Diego. If you can provide a good show in San Diego- a credible show- then that should be your abiding local show goal.